Stock-holders



May 6, 1958 s. MEYER E-rm.

STOCK-HOLDERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 4. 1956 INVENTORS. GILBERT MEYER LESLIE C. BAIN BY f any u. @462% ATTORNEY May 6, 1958 G. MEYER ETAL STOCK-HOLDERS 5 SheetsSheet 2 Filed June 4, 1956 ATTOR NEY May 6, 1958 Filed June 4. 1956 G. MEYER ETAL STOCK-HOLDERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.7

INVENTORS. GILBERT MEYER LESLIE C. BAIN ATTORNEY United States Patent STOCK-HOLDERS Gilbert Meyer, Carl Township, McPherson County, and Leslie C. Bain, Frederick, S. Dak.

Application June 4, 1956, Serial No. 589,319

Claims. (Cl. 119-98) This invention relates to stock-holders and more specically to portable stock-holders which may be readily transported from place to place for eifectively holding cattle, or the like during de-horning, branding or other operations.

It is a primary object of our invention to aiord a novel stock-holder vwhich is readily transportable, and which may be quickly and easily disposed in position to eiectively hold cattle, and the like.

Another object of our invention is to aiord a novel stock-holder of the aforementioned type which may be readily mounted in effective stock-holding position in a doorway, or the like.

An object ancillary to the foregoing is to alford a novel stock-holder which aiords a novel and elective gate.

Yet another object of our invention is to afford a novel stock-holder of the aforementioned type which may be readily adjusted-for use in doorways of various sizes.

Afurther object is to atord a stock-holderof the aforementionedtype which embodies stanchion bars for holding cattle, and the like, by the head and neck, and which embodies novel mechanism for .supporting and actuating the bars in a ynovel and expeditious manner. YAnotherobject of our inventionl is to afford a novel stock-holder o f the aforementioned vtype which embodies such stanchion bars `constituted and arranged in a gate in a novel andexpeditious manner.

v 'Another object is to afford a novel stock-holder of the aforementioned type which embodies agate which is hingedly mounted and readily removable in a novel and expeditious manner. i

4Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the followingY description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show va preferred embodiment of the present invention and the vprinciples thereof and what we now consider to be the kbest mode in which we have contemplated applying these,y principles. Other' embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles maybe used and structural changes may be madevas desiredvby those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims. if Y In the drawings: t Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stock-holder embodying the principles of our invention, shown mounted in operative position in a doorway;

-Fig.2 is a front elevational view of the stock-holder shown in Fig. l;

jFig. 3 is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 in Figl;

Figs. 4, 5 andA 6 are enlarged detail sectionalviews taken substantially4 on thelines 4-4, 5-5, and 6 6, respectively, in Fig. 2; f i

, .ig.A 7 is an` enlarged detail sectional -view taken substantially onlthe line V7 '-"7 in Fig. 2;

ice

Fig. 8 is a detail front elevational view of the portion of the stock-holder shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the portion of the stock-holder shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional View taken substantially on the line 1li-10 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view similar to Fig. 10, but showing parts therein in different operative position.

To illustrate the preferred embodiment of our invention, a stock-holder 10, embodying the principles of our invention, is shown in the drawings mounted in operative position in a doorway D, such as the doorway of a barn, or the like. The doorway D is of the usual construction, including a lintel L and a sill S.

The stock-holder 10 embodies, in general, a supporting frame F on which is hingedly, and removably mounted a gate G, carrying stanchion mechanism M, Figs. l and 2.

'Ille supporting frame F includes two side members 14 and 15 disposed in parallel spaced relation to each other, Figs. l and 2. Each of the side members 14 `and 15 are of telescoping construction embodying a straight tubular member 14a and 15a, in which is longitudinally slidably mounted a snugly fitting, straight rod 14b and 15b, respectively. The tubular members 14a and 15a may be made of .any suitable material such as, for example, steel pipe and the rods 14b andV 15b may be made of any suitable material such as, for example, smaller steel pipe or steel rods.

The lower ends of the side members 14 and 15 rest on and are secured to the opposite end portions of an elongated base member 17, Figs. 1 and 2. The base member 17 may be made ofl any suitable material such as, for example, a substantially inverted U-shaped steel channel member, and the side members 14 and 15 may be secured thereto by suitable means such as welding. Two elongated brace members 18 and 19, which may be madev of suitable material such as, for example, steel tubing, eX- tend between the upper end portions of the side members 14 and 15 `and the lower end portions of thev side members 14 and 15, respectively, in spaced relation to the respective adjacent ends of the side members 14 and 15, and in substantially parallel relation to each other s and to thebase member 17. The braces 18 and 19 are secured to the side members 14 and 15 by suitable means such as welding.

The rods 14b and 15b are normally disposed in upwardly projecting position relative to the tubularmembers 14a and 15a,`and clampingscrews 21 are threaded into the upper end portions of the tubular members 14a and 15a in position to releasably clamp the rods 14b .and 15b in longitudinally adjusted4 position relative to the tubular members 14a and 15a.

Two clamping members 23 and Z4, Figs. l, 2 and 3, are mounted on the upper ends-of the rods 14h and 15b, respectively, for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently. 'Each ofthe clamping members 23 and 24 includes an elongated, substantially U-shaped base plate 26 having an elongated, substantially flat intermediate leg 26a from the opposite end portions of which two end legs 26bfand 26C project upwardly in"sub stantially parallel spaced relation to veach other, Figs. l and 3. A substantially L-shaped slide 28 having a long leg 28a and a short leg 28h is slidably mounted on thebase plate 26, with the long leg '28a disposed in parallel juxtaposition to the intermediate leg 26a of the base plate 26, and with the short leg 28h projecting upwardly from the end of the long leg 28a which is disposed adjacenttov the end leg 2617 of the base plate 26. A yscrew 29 extends through and is threadedly engaged with the leg 2Gb of the base plate 26, and one end thereof is journalled in and attached to the leg 28b of the slide 28 so that as the screw 29 is rotated in the leg 26h of the base plate 26 it is effective to move the slide 28 longitudinally of the intermediate leg 26a of the baseplate 26. A crank handle29a islformed on the other end portion of the screw 29, whichprojects outwardly from the leg 2Gb of the base plate 26, so that the screw 29 may be effectively turned to move the slide 28 longitudinally of the intermediate leg 26a of the base plate 26.

The gate G is hingedly mounted on the frame F for opening and closing swinging movement relative thereto between a normally closed position shown in solid lines in Fig. l, in which position it spans the `space between the supporting members 14 and 15, and an open position shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, and in which latter position it projects forwardlyfrom the supporting frame F.

The gate 31 includes two spaced, parallel side rails 33 and 34, a top rail 35 and a bottom rail y36. The top .rail 35 includes two spaced substantially parallel elongated members 35a and 3511 which may be made of any suitable material such as, for example, square tubular steel, and are secured to the upper end'portions of the side rails 33 and 34 by suitable means such as welding, Figs. l, 3, and 4. Like the top rail 35, the bottom rail 36 comprises two spaced, substantially parallel elongated members 36a and 36D, and these latter members are secured to opposite sides of the lower end portions of the side rails 33 and 34 by suitable means such as welding, Figs. l, 3, and 6.

Each of therear members 35band 36b of the rails 35 and 36, respectively, is of such length, and is so disposed on the side railsr33 'and 34, that the outer ends thereof terminate in the same planes as the outer lateral faces of the respective side rails 33 and 34, Figs. 4 and 6.

The front members 35a and 36a of the top and bottom rails 35 and 36, respectively, are longer than the rear members 35h and 36b and have end portions 35e and 36e, and 35d and 36d, which project outwardly beyond the side rails 33 and 34, respectively, Figs. 1,2, 4.and 6.

The end portions 35C and 36e of the members 35 and 36, respectively, have openings 38 and 39 extending vertically therethrough, Figs. 4 and 6, and two hinge pins 41 and 42 are mounted on the tubular member 14a in position to engage in the openings 38 and 39 to thereby swingingly support the gate G from the side member 14 of thefrarne F, Figs. 1 and 2.

The hinge pin 42 is substantially L-shaped, having one leg 42a welded to, and projecting forwardly from the tubular member 14a above the brace 19, and another leg 42b projecting substantially vertically'upwardly from the free end of the leg 42a, Figs. 1, 2 and 6. The pin 42 is of such cross-sectional size that the leg 42b thereof may be readily inserted into the opening 39 in the member 36 and fits relatively loosely therein.

The hinge pin `41 includes `an elongated shank 41a having an abutment member 41b, integral therewith, projecting outwardly therefrom, Figs. 1, 2, l and 11` The pin 41 is slidably and rotatably mounted in two mounting brackets 44 and 45, which are welded to the front face of the upper end portion of the tubular member 14a, and which project forwardly therefrom in vertically spaced parallel relation to each other below the brace 18, Figs. l0 and 1l. The abutment member 41b is disposed between the brackets 44 and 45 in position to prevent the complete removal of the pin 41 from the brackets 44 and 45. The abutment 41b is disposed on the shank 41a in such position that, when the pin 41 is disposed in fully lowered position in the brackets 44 and 45the abutment 41b rests on the upper face of the lower bracket 45 and the ends of the shank 41a project upwardly and downwardly from the brackets 44 and 45, respectively, Fig. l0; and when the pin 41 is in -fully raised position, the abuti ment 41b is engaged with the lower faceof the upper bracket 44, the upper end of the shank 41a projects above the upper bracket 44, and the lower end of the shank 41a is flush with the lower face of the lower bracket 45, Fig. 1l.

Thus it will be seen that the gate G of our novel stockholder 10 may be quickly and easily hingedly mounted on the frame F by, first, lowering the member 36a onto the pin 42 with the upper end of the gate G held outwardly from the tubular member 14a so that the member 35a is disposed forwardly of the hinge pin 41 and the mounting brackets 44 and 45, as shown in Fig. 11, and, then, raising the pin 41 into the aforementioned fully raised position, as shown in Fig. 1l, swinging the upper end of the gate G rearwardly into underlying position relative to the lower bracket 45, and then dropping the pin 41 so that the lower end portion thereof is disposed in engagement in the opening 38 in the member 3S, as shown in Fig. l0. When the gate is so positioned on the frame F, it is effectively held against being lifted from the hinge pin 42 by the overlying bracket 45, and is freely pivotable on the hinge pins 41 and 42.

When it is desired to remove the gate G from the frame F, the pin 41 may be manually raised in the brackets 44 and 45 to thereby free the member 35 from the lower end portion of the pin 41. The upper end portion of the gate G may then be swung forwardly out from under the ybracket 45 and the gate G lifted from the hinge pin 42.

It will be seen that with this construction, the stockholder 10 rnay be readily transported either as a separate unit, or with thergate G removed from the frame F, and, if transported in the latter manner, may be quickly and easily assembled for use.

The front members 35a and 36a are of such length that when the gate 31 is disposed in closed position on the hinge pins 41 and 42, the members 35a and 36a extend across the supporting membersk 14 and 15, with the free end portions 35dand 36d thereof disposedin laterally abutting engagement with the front face of the supporting member 15, Figs. 2, 4 and 6.

A latch 47 is mounted on the supporting member 15 and the gate G in' position to releasably hold the gate 31 in Vclosed position relative to the supporting frame F, Figs. l, 2, 7, 8 and 9. The l-atch4'7 includes an elongated latching lever 48 pivotally connected by a bolt 49 to the side rail 34 of the gate G in substantially horizontally extending position, the bolt 49 extending through the lever 48 intermediate the ends thereof. A catch 50 is mounted on the supporting member y15 in position Vto latchingly engage the lower edge portionfof the fouter end portion of the lever 48.

A guard member 51, having a substantially U-shaped side wall 51a is` mounted in substantially horizontally projecting positionon the side rail 34 of the gate G with the bight thereof projecting inwardly from the side rail 34. The bolt 49 extends through the'legs of the side wall 51a, and the side wall 51a is supportedjthereby in overlying relation to the inner end portion of the 'latching lever 48, Figs. 7 and 8.

An enlongated brace 51b extends between the lower edge portion of the legs of the side wall 51a in underlying relation to the inner end portion of the lever 48, and a compression coil spring 53 is mounted between the rear end portion of the lever 48 and the brace 51b, Figs. 7 and 8. The upper end portion of thespring 53 is hooked `on to the rear vend portion of the lever 48, and the' lower fend portion of the Vspring 53 is hooked on to the brace 51b in position to normally urge the lever 48 to rotate around'the bolt 49 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 8.

When the lever 48A'is latchingly engaged in the catch 50, it is yieldingly held in that position bythe spring S3. Y

When it is desired-to swing the gateG from such closed position to open' position relative to the frame F, the lever 51 may be manually raised by its outer end portion to free itfrom the catch 50, and the `gate G kmay then be swung forwardly on the hinge pins 41 and 42.

The guard 51 is open at the top, but the side wall 51a is of suflicient height that the inner end of the lever 48 is protected from beingy struck to thereby accidently release the outer end of the lever 48 from the latching member 50.

Two stanchion bars 61 .and 62 are mounted in substantially upright position in the gate 31, Figs. 1 and 2. The lower ends of the stanchion bars 61 and 62 are disposed between the rails 36a and 36b and are pivotally connected thereto by pins 64 and 65, respectively, which extend through the rails 36a and 36b and the lower end portions of the respective stanchion bars 61 and 62. The upper end portions of the stanchion bars 61 and 62 are slidably mounted in the upper rail 35 for movement toward and away from each other longitudinally of the rail 35 between the members 35a and 35b.

An elongated lever 67 embodying two substantially parallel side members 67a and 671:, Figs. 2 and 3, is pivotally mounted at one end by a pin o1' bolt 68 to the upper end ofthe stanchion bar 61. The side members 67a and 67b are disposed on opposite sides of a spacer 68a mountedon the pin 68, and the pin 68 projects from the upper end portion of the stanchion bar 61 through the side members 67a and 67h :and the spacer 68a to held the lever 67 on the upper end of the bar 6i, Fig. 3.

Another elongated lever 71 is connected at one end oy a pinor bolt 72 to the upper end portion of the stanchion bar 62. It is also pivotally connected intermediate its ends by a pin 74 to the other end of the lever 67, the lever 71 being disposed between the upper ends of the side members 67a and 67b, and the pin 74 extending through these latter ends and through the central portion of the lever 71, Figs. 2 and 3iy A handle member 71a is Uafforded at the free end of the lever 71.

' The levers 67 and 71 areso mounted on the stanchion bars 61 and 62, and are so connected together, that they may be moved between a normal position wherein the pin'74 is disposed above, but between the pins 68 and 72, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 2, and lan actuated position wherein the pin 74 is disposed outside of and below the pins 68 and 72, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2.

When the levers 67 and 71 are disposed in the aforementioned normal position they are effective to hold the stanchion bars 61 and 62 in open position wherein the upper end portions of the bars 61 and 62 are disposed a substantial distance apart, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 2. When the bars 61 and 62 are disposed in this position, an animal to be held by our novel stock-holder 10 may readily extend its head and neck through the opening therebetween.

When it is desired to move the stanchion bars 61 and 62 in closed position, as shown in broken lines i-n Fig. 2, wherein the upper end portions thereof are disposed substantially closer together than in the open position, the lever 71 may be pulled by the handle 71a and rotated in a clockwise direction around the pivot pin 72 from the positionishown in solid lines in Fig. 2 to the position shown in broken lines therein. This movement of the lever 71 is eilective to pivot the lever 67 around the pivot pin 68 in a clockwise direction, as Viewed in Fig. 2, from the position shown in solid lines to that shown in broken lines therein. This'movement of the levers 71 and 67 from the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in broken lines is effective to swing the stanchion bars 61 and 62 on the pivot pins 64 and 65 from the aforementioned open position to the aforementioned closed position as shown in Fig. 2.

When the stanchion bars 61 and 62 are disposed in closed position, the upper end portions thereof are disposed suiciently close together to prevent such an animal from inserting or withdrawing its head therebetween, but are spaced suiciently far apart that when an anim-al has inserted its head between the bars 61 and 62 they were in open position, and the bars 61 and 62 are thereafter moved into Closedposition, the

moved toward open position a sufficient distance to permit the animal to withdraw its head from between the bars 61 and 62. Hence, it will be seen that the bars 61 and 62 are electively latched in animal-holding position until the levers 67 and 72 are again manually moved upwardly n toward normal position.

Two substantially l..-shaped elongated brackets 75 and 76, made of suitable'material such as, for'example, angle iron, are mounted on the lower end portions of the side rails 33 and 34 of the gate G, and project rearwardly therefrom above the member 36h, Figs. l and 5. The brackets 75 and 76 may be secured to the side rails 33 and 34 by suitable means such as welding and are disposed in position thereon to receive a board 78 therebetween and support the board in upright position on the member 36b, with the board extending across the lower end portion of the space between' the side rails 33 and 34, Figs. l and 5. The board 78 affords a readily visible obstruction which tends to discourage an animal to be held by our novel stock-holder 10 from attempting to go completely through the stanchion bars 61 and 62.

In the operation of our novel invention, theV stockholder 10 may be transported by stockmen, veterinarians, and the like, in completely assembledA condition, or with the gate G removed 'from the frame 12. When` it is desired to hold an animal for dehorning, branding, or other operations, the frame 12 may be mounted in upright position in a ysuitable place such as the doorway D of abarn. In so mounting thestock-holder 10, the frame 12 may first be disposed in upright position in the doorway D, with the base 17 resting on the sill S or other lowermost structure of the doorway D. The rods 14b and 15b may then be raised in the tubular members 14a and 15a into position to ldispose the open clamps 23 and 24 in engagement with the lintel L of the door D, and the screws 29 on the clamps 23 and 24 may then be actuated to firmly clamp the lintel L between the legs 26e and 28h of the respective clamping members 23 and 24. The gate 31, if it has 'been transported separately from the frame 12, may then be mounted on the hinge pins 41 and 42 in the manner previously described, and may be latched in closed position by means of the latch 47.

The lever 71 may then be moved into unactuated position as `shown in solid lines in Fig. 2 to thereby move the stanchion bars 61 and 62 into open position. The remainder of the doorway D may be closed by suitable means such as the usual door, not shown, mounted therein, and theanimal on which the operation is to be performed may be driven from the barn into position wherein its neck projects forwardly between the stanchion bars 61 and 62. The lever 71 may then be manually swung down into actuated position to thereby close they stanchion bars 61 and 62 and hold the animal.

When it is desired to release the animal, the lever 71 may be manually moved upwardly into normal position to thereby open the stanchion bars 61 and 62 and, if it is desired to keep the animal in the barn, the animal may then be backed out of the stock-holder 10. If it is desired to permit the animal to escape from the barn, the latch 47 may be released and the gate 31 opened, after the stanchion bars 61 and 62 have been moved into open position, and the animal may then be permitted to step across the brace 19 outwardly from the frame 12.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that we have afforded a novel stock-holder which is readily transportable; may be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled; is practical and elicient in operation; and may be readily and economically produced commercially.

Hence, while we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be -understood that these are capable of variation and modification, and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A portable stock holder adapted to be mounted in a doorway comprising two elongated supporting members disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation to each other adapted to be disposed in upright position in such a doorway, and a gate hingedly mounted on one of said members and pivotable thereon into open and closed position relative to the other of said members, said gate `including two stanchion bars disposed in upright position when said supporting members are so disposed in said upright position, means pivotally mounting said bars at their lower end portions, and lever means mounted on and interconnecting the upper end portions of said bars for swinging said bars around said mounting means toward and away from each other between a closed position and an open position, said bars being disposed closer together when in said closed position than when in said open position, said lever means comprising two levers pivotally attached to the upper end portions of respective ones of said bars, and a pin pivotally connecting said levers together in position wherein, when'said bars are disposed in said closed position, said pin is disposed below the pivotal connection of said levers to said bars and said leversareeiective to hold said bars against being moved outwardly relative to each other by outward pressure on said bars. v

2. A portable stock holder as defined in claim 1, and in which one of said levers has a free end portion disposed horizontally outwardly of said barsfwhen said bars are disposed in said closed position.

3. A portable stock holder as defined in claim 1, and in which said levers are disposed in such position on said bars that said levers project upwardly and inwardly from said bars inwardly toward each other when said bars are disposed in said open position.

4. A portable stock holder as dened in claim 1, and which includes mounting means for removably mounting said gate on said supporting member, said mounting means comprising a pin iixedly mounted on one of said supporting members and pivotally engaging said gate when the latter is disposed in one position, means mounted on said one supporting member in position to overlie said gate in position toprevent vertical movement of said gate off from said pin when said gate is disposed in said one position, said gate having another position wherein it may be moved oft from said pin, and another pin reciprocably mounted in said overlying means in position to move between a holding position, wherein it is pivotally engaged with said gate in position to hold the latter in said one position, and a releasing position wherein it is out of engagement with said gate to thereby release said gate, and abutment means on said other pin limiting said reciprocation of said other pin to movement between said holding and releasing positions.

5. A portable stock holder as defined in claim l, and which includes clamping means on the upper end portions of said supporting members for releasably engaging the lintel of such a doorway for holding said supporting members in said doorway.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,514,429 Burmester Nov. 4, 1924 1,599,703 Ferris Sept. 14, 1926 2,538,470 Peeples Jan. 16, 1951 2,587,318 Hively Feb. 26, 1952 2,730,072 rFirkins Jan. l0, 1956 

